City Council Incumbents Still Lead in Fundraising

When we last checked in on fundraising by Austin City Council and mayoral candidates, the incumbents showed a huge fundraising advantage. And unsurprisingly, recently filed "30 day out" campaign finance reports from the candidates show that's still the case.

Mayor Lee Leffingwell has about $104,000 cash on hand. Challenger Brigid Shea has about $53,000 remaining in her coffers. Mayoral candidate Clay Dafoe listed only $637 on hand.

Council member Mike Martinez holds a huge fundraising advantage over challenger Laura Pressley, with $92,000 remaining compared to her $4,100.

Dominic “Dom” Chavez has the most total cash of any challenger: $12,600. Tina Cannon has about $2,400. But both still lag behind Place 5 incumbent Bill Spelman’s $29,700.

Bundlers played a prominent role in the incumbents’ returns: Mayor Leffingwell named 11 bundlers in his returns; Shea named one. Martinez and Cole named eight and five bundlers, respectively. Bundlers are individuals authorized to solicit funds from their contacts on a candidate’s behalf.

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That title is slightly more than a rhetorical question, since the filing for City Council candidacies closed yesterday at 5 p.m. features more than a few political unknowns. Thats particularly true in Place 5, where six candidates have filed to run against incumbent Bill Spelman. Heres our rundown of the known and unknown candidates: Mayor: Richard C. Clay Dafoe S. Lee Leffingwell (Website) Brigid Shea (Website) No major surprises here. Incumbent Mayor S. Lee Leffingwell (the S stands for Shelley ) has made his re-election intentions clear for months, while former council member Brigid Shea has been steadily campaigning since she declared last month. Challenger Clay Dafoe is also familiar to council watchers as an outspoken gadfly at council meetings. Hes known for haranguing the City Council when they meet; a representative example can be seen here .

Mayor Lee Leffingwell is taking nothing for granted in his re-election bid. Despite a lack of formidable opposition, Austins incumbent mayor announced two high profile, if unorthodox, endorsements this weekend. His campaign shares the details: AUSTIN, TX Mayor Lee Leffingwell is excited to announce today that he has been endorsed by two of Austins favorite adopted sons country music legend Willie Nelson and seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong. I love Austin and I think Mayor Leffingwell has done a real good job of helping keep it a special place, said Nelson. Im proud to give him my endorsement. Mayor Leffingwell has been a strong leader and I think he deserves another term, said Armstrong. I hope my fellow Austinites will join me in supporting him for re-election. Austins municipal election is set for May 12. Race Shaping Up in Place 2? A vocal critic of City Hall has settled on a place in which to run.